Investors pushed the main market of Jamaica Stock Exchange up on Monday with the all Jamaican Composite Index climbing 2,392.60 points to 321,159.47 and the JSE Index jumping 2,179.93 points to 292,612.59.
Trading closed with 26 securities changing hands, down from 27 on Friday, leading to 11 advancing, 10 declining and 6 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Grace Kennedy falling $1 to $50, Mayberry Investments jumping by $1 to $6.50 and Scotia Group with a rise of $2 to $54.
Main market activity ended with 6,657,188 units valued at $155,508,071 compared to 3,641,373 units with a value of $64,163,969 changing hands on Friday. At the end of trading, JMMB Group closed with 3,017,431 units and accounted for 45.33 percent of traded shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 809,577 units, 12.16 percent of total volume traded and Victoria Mutual Investments with 718,287 units with 10.79 percent of trades.
Trading results in an average of 277,383 shares valued at $6,479,503 for each security traded, compared to 140,053 shares valued at $1,194,310 on Friday. For the month to date an average of 604,726 units with an average value at 10,135,623 traded, compared to 627,970 units with an average value at 10,417,767 traded on the previous trading day. 
In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market on Monday ended with 16,220 units valued at over $4,268 with the market index slipping 0.91 points to close at 169.13. Proven Investments closed trading at 22 US cents with 14,220 units changing hands and Productive Business Solution traded 2,000 units at 58 US cents valued at US$295,
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Investor bids $1,300 for Palace shares – Monday.
Palace, Grace out NCB & PanJam in TOP 10
There were no entrants or exists from to the Junior Market TOP 10 list but Palace Amusement more than doubled during the week rising 132 percent and left the list along with Grace Kennedy that rose to $51.50. The two are replaced by NCB Financial and PanJam Investment.
PanJam released 2017 audited financial statements with increased earnings of 29 percent to $4.13 billion, from ongoing operations resulting in earnings per share of $3.93. The group is expected to continue to enjoy increased earnings in 2018.
The main market hit record highs during the week but pulled back as the market move closer to resistance level in a long term channel. 
It just a matter of time for the break out to take place, regardless the channel points upwards for the market. Profit results for 2018 first quarter, will be important in helping to fuel the break out but with Treasury bill rates falling to 3.16 percent on the 182 days instrument during the past week, an important leg for a rally to come, is in place.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6.3 compared to an average PE for the overall main market is 10 based on 2018 estimated earnings.
At the same time the main market ended the week with a PE of 6.7 for the top stocks compared to a market average of close to 12.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 37 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be, of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 45 percent to the market
Junior Market slips again – Friday
The Junior Market ended trading on Friday with a 11.7 points drop in the market index to 2,881.87 with 20 securities changing hands compared to 23 trading on Thursday.
Market activity resulted in with just 6 security advancing, 6 declining and 8 remaining unchanged, with an exchange of 2,993,806 units valued at $14,194,427. On Thursday, trading ended with 1,983,814 units valued at $13,150,229 changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 149,690 units for an average of $709,721 compared to an average of 86,253 units for an average of $571,749 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 121,429 units at $510,838, compared to an average of 119,263 units at $495,598 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 338,697 units at an average value of $1,495,774 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows just 5 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 5 cents at $2, exchanging 87,325 stock units, CAC 2000 finished at $9, with 1,030 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 98 cents at $5.99, with 1,000,000 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading 27 cents higher at $4.67, with 30,000 units, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $7.50, with 10,000 shares. Elite Diagnostic settled 14 cents higher at $3.20, with 287,518 units, Express Catering traded with a loss of 5 cents at $4.45, with 185,882 shares, FosRich Group finished trading 8 cents higher at $2.58, with 14,393 shares, Honey Bun lost 50 cents in closing at $4.30, with 1,777 shares. Jetcon Corporation traded at $4.15, with 33,951 units, 
Key Insurance finished trading at $4.10, with 50,000 shares, Knutsford Express ended 14 cents higher at $12.14, with 3,877 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $3.99, with 27,220 stock units. Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 20 cents at $4.80, with 1,119 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 20 cents higher at $4.20, with 927,141 shares, Main Event ended trading at $6, with 695 shares, Medical Disposables traded 10 cents higher at $4.90, with 1,510 shares. Paramount Trading closed at $3.20, while 210 stock units were exchanged, Stationery and Office closed at $5.51, with 329,491 units and tTech concluded trading at $5.20, with 667 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE majors fall again on Friday
Palace closed at a new high of $1,300 on Friday.
Investors were kinder to stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and ended up cutting the market indices by less than 1,000 points compared to drop of more than 4,700 points on Thursday, but Palace Amusement jumped $200 to $1,300.
At the close, the all Jamaican Composite Index lost 741.12 points to end at 318,766.87 and the JSE Index dipped 675.24 points to 290,432.66.
Trading closed with 27 securities changing hands, down from 29 on Thursday, leading to 11 advancing, 10 declining and 6 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Caribbean Cement losing 91 cents to end at $31.70, Grace Kennedy falling $1 to $51, Sagicor Group declining 90 cents to $35.60 and Scotia Group that lost $2 to $52.
Main market activity ended with 3,641,373 units valued at over $64,163,969 changing hands, versus 14,969,349 units valued at $264,028,466 on Thursday.
Carreras closed with 1,251,675 units and accounted for 34.37 percent of traded shares, Sagicor Group with 537,833 units amounted to 14.77 percent of trading and Berger Paints with 14.77 percent of trades with 501,659 units.
Trading results in an average of 140,053 shares valued at $1,194,310 for each security traded, compared to 516,184 shares valued at $9,104,430 on Thursday. For the month to date, an average of 627,970 units with an average value at 10,417,767 traded, compared to 668,629 units with an average value at 11,259,206 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market on Friday ended with Proven Investments concluded trading at 22 US cents with 1,340 units changing hands valued at US$295, as the market index rose 2.19 points to close at 170.04.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Investor pays $1,300 for Palace shares – Friday – Friday.
Investor pays $1,300 for Palace shares – Friday
Palace Amusement hit a record of $1,300 on Friday.
IC Insider TOP 10 stock – Palace Amusement, rose $200 on Friday and ended the week with a gain of $740 to close at $1,300 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, as investors responded to the strong patronage of the Black Panther being shown by the movie house.
Main market activity ended with 26 securities changing hands, with 11 securities rising, 10 falling, 5 trading firm. The market closed with 3,641,373 units valued at over $64,163,969 being exchanged.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index fell 741.12 points to 318,766.87 and the JSE Index declined by 675.24 points to 290,432.66.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed 25 cents higher at $9.25, with 4,700 shares, Berger Paints ended with a loss of 55 cents at $16.45, with 501,659 stock units, Carreras finished with a loss of 68 cents at $10.10, with 1,251,675 shares, Caribbean Cement settled with a loss of 91 cents at $31.70, with 4,390 shares, Grace Kennedy traded with a loss of 1 cent at $51, with 15,712 stock units. Jamaica Broilers finished trading 48 cents higher at $19.99, with 33,607 units, Jamaica Producers closed 49 cents higher at $15.50, with 10,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a loss of 50 cents at $6, with 72,730 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading 25 cents higher at $26.31, with 251,690 shares. Kingston Wharves settled with a loss of 50 cents at $39, with 3,400 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading 33 cents higher at $5.50, with 18,949 shares, NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of 50 cents at $98, with 35,030 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading 12 cents higher at $1.15, with 9,750 shares. Palace Amusement jumped $200 and closed at a new all time high of $1,300, with 300 stock units,
138 Student Living ended 29 cents higher at $5.80, with 5,000 shares,changing hands. PanJam Investment ended $42 higher at $42, with 2,430 units, Portland JSX concluded trading with a loss of 5 cents at $9.95, exchanging 560 shares, Pulse Investments finished at $1.85, with 1,751 shares. Radio Jamaica settled 2 cents higher at $1.08, with 11,000 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading 45 cents higher at $36.05, with 537,833 stock units, Scotia Group finished trading with a loss of 2 cents at $52, with 81,245 shares, Seprod closed with a loss of 20 cents at $30.05, with 5,600 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading 50 cents higher at $12, with 5,800 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished at $4.50, with 281,020 units and Wisynco Group settled at $10.50, with 495,442 shares and in the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% finished trading at $1.50, with 100 units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE majors fall again on Friday.”
CWC CALA gets 1.6B C&W Jamaica shares
parent company of C&W Jamaica now owns over 91% of the shares.
CWC CALA Holdings now controls 91.73 percent of the ordinary stock units of Cable & Wireless Jamaica following an offer made on December 28, last year, to purchase 3,027,138,546 ordinary stock units owned by minority shareholders of J$1.45 per stock unit.
Acceptance was received from 3,184 shareholders who tendered 1,639,751,868 ordinary stock units but 3,180,025 units were deemed invalid reducing the amounted accepted to 1,636,571,843 units representing approximately 54.17 percent of the ordinary stock units held by the minority shareholders and approximately 9.7 percent of all the ordinary stock units issued.
With the parent company now holding over 90 percent no mention was made about compulsory acquisition of the rest but IC Insider.com has been informed in January that it is the intension of the parent company to have the company delisted.
Cable and Wireless reported operating profit of $5.134 billion dollars before exceptional item of $112 million and finance charge of $5.2 billion and a small of loss of $138 million. Profit for the December quarter before taxation charge was $600 million and $700 million excluding the exceptional item.
Most importantly, based on the method on which the bulk of interest rates are computed, the cost for 2018 assuming no major increase in the amount of borrowing, then the rate which averaged over just over 8 percent in 2017 should fall to around 6 percent in 2018 and cut around $1.3 billion from the interest bill thus ensuring that this year will be profitable. The actual formula is based on 2.79 percent above the weighted average six months Treasury bill auctioned immediately prior to May 11 and November 11. According to the 2017 audited accounts, the rate applied was 7.68 percent at the end of last year versus 8.62 percent that was applicable up to May last year. With the six months Treasury bill rate just above 3 percent currently, assuming no shift in the policy then savings will be in excess of 2 percentage points for 2018.
Investors in the company were never provided with the information on the full 2017 year’s results or given any indication about what could be expected for 2018 and beyond. The rules of the capital market does not really protect the investing public and this is not a satisfactory manner in operating a stock market.
3 securities rise 4 fall on TTSE – Friday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Friday with trading in 12 securities against 15 on Thursday, with 3 stocks advancing, 4 declining and 5 remaining unchanged.
The market closed with 441,097 shares valued at $12,442,038 trading, compared to 267,128 units valued at $3,784,239 on Thursday.
At close, the Composite Index fell 0.49 points on Friday to 1,268.74, the All T&T Index rose 0.07 points to 1,699.99, while the Cross Listed Index shed 0.15 points to close at 113.01.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, on Friday, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| JMMB Group increased 1 cent and ended at $1.96, with 253,010 stock units changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 4 cents and concluded at a 52 weeks’ high of $28.04, after exchanging 23,609 shares and West Indian Tobacco closed with a gain of 5 cents and settled at $88.55, exchanging 99,742 stock units.
Losses| Angostura Holdings closed with a loss of 1 cent and ended at $15.70, with 10,000 stock units changing hands, 
Guardian Holdings fell 1 cent and settled at $16, after exchanging 8,500 units, NCB Financial Group shed 3 cents and concluded trading at $6.50, after exchanging 300 shares and Trinidad Cement lost 1 cent and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.99, with 597 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments completed trading at $20.10, with 18,800 units changing hands, First Citizens closed at $32.19, after exchanging 4,158 shares, Republic Financial Holdings ended at $101.52, with 6,325 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Financial completed trading at $7.84, with 24 units and Scotiabank settled at $62.50, after 16,032 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Investor bids $1,300 for Palace shares – Thursday
Palace Multiplex in Montego Bay.
IC Insider TOP 10 stock – Palace Amusement, jumped $540 to $1,100 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, did not trade on Thursday but closed with the bid at $1,300 and an offer at $1,500.
The sharp increased price, comes as investors responded to the strong patronage of the Black Panther movie, that is expected to raise revenues and profit sharply for Palace.
Main market activity ended with 29 securities changing hands, with 3 securities rising, 14 falling, 12 trading firm. Trading closed with 14,969,349 units valued at $264,028,466 being exchanged.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 4,700.74 points to 319,507.99 and the JSE Index dived 4,282.91 points to 291,107.90.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed at $9, with 3,600 shares, Berger Paints ended at $17, with 100 stock units, Carreras finished with a loss of 12 cents at $10.78, with 362,023 shares, Caribbean Cement settled 1 cent higher at $32.61, with 58,148 shares, Ciboney Group ended trading at 14 cents, with 145,700 shares. Grace Kennedy traded at $52, with 12,451 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading with a loss of 48 cents at $19.51, with 342,660 units, Jamaica Producers closed with a loss of 49 cents at $15.01, with 326,924 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended at $6.50, with 112,036 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading with a loss of 44 cents at $26.06, with 623,884 shares, Kingston Properties finished with a loss of 65 cents at $6, with 7,500 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled at $39.50, with 5,950 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading 2 cents higher at $5.17, with 2,000 shares. NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of 99 cents at $98.50, after 893,212 shares changed hands, 1834 Investments finished trading with a loss of 12 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.03, with 3,000 shares, 138 Student Living ended with a loss of 29 cents at $5.51, with 150 shares, PanJam Investment finished $42 higher at $42, with 58,886 stock units, 
Pulse Investments concluded trading at $1.85, with 33,735 shares, Radio Jamaica finished with a loss of 2 cents at $1.06, with 3,570 shares. Sagicor Group settled with a loss of 90 cents at $35.60, with 225,268 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund settled with a loss of 10 cents at $15, with 16,636 shares, Salada Foods ended trading at $12.05, with 8,474 stock units, Scotia Group traded with a loss of $2 at $54, with 124,930 units, Seprod finished trading at $30.25, with 48,955 shares. Supreme Ventures ended with a loss of 50 cents at $11.50, with 1,767,895 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments concluded trading with a loss of 7 cents at $4.50, with 732,219 stock units and Wisynco Group finished at $10.50, with 9,043,043 units. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.25% ended trading at $2.55, with 400 shares, JMMB Group 7.5% closed at $1.02, with 6,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “4,700 points drop for JSE – Thursday.”
Another day of 20 stocks traded on TTSE – Thursday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Thursday with trading in 15 securities against 20 on Wednesday, with 4 stocks advancing, 2 declining and 9 remaining unchanged.
The market closed with 267,128 shares valued at $3,784,239 trading, compared to 588,538 shares valued at $15,214,861 on Wednesday.
At close, the Composite Index fell 0.98 points to 1,269.23, the All T&T Index closed with a loss of 1.27 points to 1,699.92, while the Cross Listed Index shed 0.09 points to close at 113.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, on Thursday, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Ansa Mcal finished trading with a gain of 1 cent and ended at $60, with 1,000 units, Guardian Holdings finished trading after an increase of 1 cent and completed trading at $16.01, after exchanging 23,924 shares, Sagicor Financial rose 2 cents to end at $7.84, with 4,566 units and Unilever Caribbean closed with a rise of 1 cent and ended at $30.36, with 100 units changing hands.
Losses| First Citizens shed 31 cents and settled at $32.19, after exchanging 355 shares and JMMB Group lost 2 cents and concluded trading at $1.95, with 96,595 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments ended at $20.10, with 64,802 units, First Caribbean international Bank completed trading at $9.30, after exchanging 1,927 shares, Grace Kennedy ended at $3.34, with 20,000 units, LJ Williams B share settled at 75 cents, after exchanging 6,314 shares, Massy Holdings ended at $47.44, with 1,026 stock units changing hands. NCB Financial Group settled at $6.53, after exchanging 9,895 shares, Scotiabank completed trading at $62.50, after exchanging 16,318 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL settled at $28, after the trading of 20,156 shares and West Indian Tobacco completed trading at $88.50, after 150 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
4,700 points drop for JSE – Thursday
Investors chopped 4,700.74 points off the Jamaica Stock Exchange all Jamaican Composite Index to end at 319,507.99 and slashed 4,282.91 points off of the JSE Index to close at 291,107.90 in main Market trading on Thursday with a ratio of 5 stocks rising to 1 falling.
Trading closed with 29 securities changing hands, leading to only 3 advancing, 14 declining and 12 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. A few securities closed with sizable price changes as NCB Financial Group fell 99 cents to $98.50, Sagicor Group declined 90 cents to $35.60 and Scotia Group lost $2 to $54.
Main market activity ended with 14,969,349 units valued at $264,028,466 changing hands, versus 99,164,384 units valued at $151,125,249 on Wednesday.
Wisynco Group closed with 9,043,043 units and accounted for 60.41 percent of traded shares, Supreme Ventures with 1,767,895 units amounted to 11.81 percent of trading and NCB Financial Group with 5.97 percent of trades with 893,212 units.
Trading results in an average of 516,184 shares valued at $9,104,430 for each security traded, compared to 366,575 shares valued at $6,045,010 on Wednesday. For the month to date an average of 668,629 units with an average value at 11,259,206 traded, compared to 684,251 units with an average value at 11,503,301 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
There was no trading in the US dollar market on Thursday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Investor bids $1,300 for Palace shares – Thursday.